Many people already feel they know that Daniel Jones is not the answer for the NY Giants long term. However it’s not so cut and dry. The NY Giants are 3-1 to start the season and the passing numbers aren’t great, but Jones is a big part of why they are 3-1. It hasn’t been pretty, but it’s working.
Jones has three touchdown passes in four games and he’s thrown just two interceptions in four games. The NY Giants are 30th in the NFL in passing yards per game as Jones has just averaged 157.8 yards per contest. He’s completing 64 percent of his passes despite being sacked 30 times. The big part of his game however has been the rushing attack. Jones has 31 carries for 193 yards and two rushing touchdowns, he’s averaging 6.2 yards per carry.
Saquon Barkley praises Daniel Jones for blocking for him on the broken screen play:
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) October 2, 2022
"Not really a lot of quarterbacks out there that would go out there and fight for the team, coming back in and making those blocks" pic.twitter.com/wR5nVRXmdV
NY Giants QB Daniel Jones has impressed despite not-so-great numbers
Jones has proved despite all of his flaws he can throw the deep ball very well. That’s not happening a lot for him and the NY Giants this season. Kadarius Toney has barely played, Wan’Dale Robinson has barely played, Sterling Shepard is out for the season, Kenny Golladay has been one of the worst signings in NFL history and the rest of the receiving core is a huge unknown. Saquon Barkley is a huge weapon for Jones, but something has to change with the wide receivers.
It’s a complicated question on what the NY Giants should do with Jones going forward. Another injury – Jones is dealing with a bum ankle – makes things even more complicated. It’s Year 4 and we still have a lot of questions about Jones. The offensive line continues to struggle, the wide receiving core is non existent and it’s another new offense to learn. Other teams have done so much to put talent around young quarterbacks, but failures by the old NY regime have hampered the new one.
Jones is making progress in Brian Daboll’s offense. The NY Giants are winning and Jones is playing better even if the numbers don’t always reflect it. He’s still having some issues staring down receivers and going through progressions, however.
The next 13 games might still not answer that question, especially if the receiving core continues like this. However if the NY Giants continue to win ball games, it’s tough to bail on Jones especially if the NY Giants first-round pick for 2023 keeps lowering. Jones can dictate what happens going forward, but he still needs some help. The future is up in the air for Jones in New York. He still has a lot to prove to the new regime.
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